Sarita Gupta

Sarita Gupta "is the National Field Director of Jobs with Justice (JWJ), a national campaign for workers' rights and economic justice that consists of over 40 local coalitions in cities across the United States. JWJ local coalitions bring together labor, community, faith-based, and student organizations to address issues impacting working people and their families. JWJ educates working people about the connection between workers' rights and strong communities, and explores innovative community based organizing for economic justice. Sarita oversees the national field program and leads on strategic programs such as health care justice, organizing and collective bargaining rights campaigns, and immigrant workers' rights. Prior to joining the national JWJ staff in 2002, Sarita served as the Executive Director of Chicago Jobs with Justice (JWJ) for four years, where she helped build the coalition to over 70 member organizations and unions, and deepened their work to address key workers' rights issues including: health care justice, organizing and collective bargaining rights, immigrants' rights, day labor/temporary labor issues, housing, and globalization. During her tenure in Chicago, she served on the National Board of JWJ.

"All of Sarita's work prior to Jobs with Justice has centered around involving students in the political process through grassroots organizing, voter registration/education work, and lobbying efforts. In 1996, Sarita was elected the National President of the United States Student Association (USSA), the country's oldest and largest grassroots legislative student organization, where she represented over 3.5 million students nationwide at the White House, on Capitol Hill, and at the Department of Education. She served as a trainer for the Grass Roots Organizing Weekend (GROW) program for three years, which is a project of USSA and the Midwest Academy. Sarita graduated from Mount Holyoke College where she was active in a wide range of issues including leading a successful recruitment and retention campaign of low-income students and students of color.

"Sarita currently serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors of Choice USA, a grassroots, reproductive rights organization that mobilizes and provides ongoing support to the diverse, upcoming generation of young leaders who promote and protect reproductive choice both now and in the future." 


 * Director, International Labor Rights Fund
 * Recipient of the 2007 Heather Award, Midwest Academy
 * Coordinating Committee, Grassroots Global Justice
 * Director, Organizers' Forum